ACC Name Game

As promised, here is another run at college football names. Today, we’re looking at the ACC, which, as it turns out, is a hotbed for awesome names. As a caveat, I don’t include names that are clearly ethnic, such as Boston College FS Okechukwu Okoroha. These lists include only American-conceived names, or at least names that seem to be rooted in the U.S.

Unlike my SEC Name Game, I included the entire rosters of ACC teams because I did not mine this ACC soil last year.

Also, as much as I love the SEC names, these ACC names take a backseat to nobody. I knew that Clemson would bring the wood, but I’m very surprised (pleasantly) with Virginia’s performance. Well done, Cavs.

Boston College
1. Lars Anderson, TE – He’s ranked No. 4 in the world right behind Magnus ver Magnusson in ESPN Strongest Man Competition. I hear that he can throw a beer keg 25 yards.
2. Rolandan Finch, RB –This name is just a couple of letters too long
3. Billy Flutie, WR – nephew of Doug, not an interesting name, but an interesting tidbit… and he towers over him at 6’2.
4. DeLeon Gause, CB – when I first saw this name, I thought “Back to the Future” and “DeLorean,” unfortunately it’s just DeLeon, which is also awesome, but not quite as.
5. Montel Harris, RB – all I can think of is the former talk show guy.
6. Hampton Hughes, SS – Doesn’t this sound like a chain of hotels?
7. Sterlin Phifer, RB – sounds like a brand of faucets.
8. Damik Scafe, DT – I love the idea of having a first name that sounds like a swear word.

Clemson
1. Durrell Barry, TE – interesting take on “Darrell,” the name sort of sounds like some sort of tool or equipment. “If you’re having trouble getting that lugnut off, use the durrell barry, it works like a charm.”
2. Da’Quan Bowers, DE – I’m assuming this is pronounced like former OSU gunner Daequan Cook, which makes the name familiar to me, but nonetheless strange. As you know, I’m a fan of the apostrophe. Also, I highly enjoy any form of “Quan” which reminds me of Jerry McGuire, “You’re my ambassador of quan, man.”
3. Tajh Boyd, QB – kind of a variation on Taj or Tahj although I know how to pronounce those two, is this one pronounced the same or is it Taj-Huh?
4. Jaron Brown, WR – sort of sounds run-of the-mill, but I still like it.
5. Kantrell Brown, S – yes he can.
6. Kourtnei Brown, DE – now this is an original way to spell Courtney.
7. Crezdon Butler, CB – is this a city in Poland?
8. Sadat Chambers, S – reminds me of two different things: (1) the hip hop MC, Sadat X, formerly of the group Brand Nubian, and (2) a video game that I played way, way, way too much of as a high schooler “Street Fighter.” To win the game, a player had to travel to various stages facing nefarious foes, the last of which took you to Thailand to face “Sagat” which was kind of like fighting Kareem Abdul Jabbar in “Game of Death.” I realize the name is not the same, but it’s close.

9. Quandon Christian, LB – there’s “Quan” again. Although this name is frighteningly close to the word “condom” which I’m sure he’s heard before.
10. Kavell Conner, LB – this could be the name of Superman’s uncle.
11. Jacoby Ford, WR – I had no idea that this name was a popular as it is and I suppose I get it because Jacob is always near the top of the charts for popular baby names and adding a “y” isn’t that much of a stretch.
12. Dalton Freeman, C – he’s great with a six-shooter.
13. Malliciah Goodman, DE – just a butchering of the name Malachi.
14. Jamarcus Grant, OG – as I’ve said before, “__marcus” is so popular these days that it almost seems pedestrian even though it isn’t.
15. Corico Hawkins, LB – isn’t this a Grecian island? Right off the coast of Santorini?
16. J.K. Jay, OT – … J- K- J- K- J- K- J- K …dude, your CD is skipping.
17. Marquan Jones, WR – again, Quan.
18. Willy Korn, QB – a colloquialism for genital herpes.
19. Carlton Lewis, Jr., S – it’s Not Unusual…

20. Rennie Moore, DT – this seems like a nickname, but what is it short for? Reynolds?
21. Rendrick Taylor, FB – I’d bet that this guy can take, and deliver, a punch.
22. Dawson Zimmerman, P – partner to Dalton Freeman out on the plains.

Duke
1. Pontus Bondeson, OT – this sounds like one of the characters in Gladiator.
2. Re’quan Boyette, RB – Quan is everywhere.
3. Lex Butler, CB – I cannot see this name and not think of Lex Luthor
4. August Campbell, LB – the sheriff of a small Texas town.
5. Walt Canty, S – owns the “sporting gal” saloon in the town August Campbell patrols.
6. Catron Gainey, S – This is high-end tequila, sold only in the most elite of hotel bars.

Florida State
1. Dionte Allen, CB – this name, and it’s many iterations, just screams athlete, doesn’t it?
2. Taiwan Easterling, WR – I went to high school with a guy named Taiwan, but he didn’t spell it this way, he was “Tijuan” and I’m convinced that if he would have played football he would have dizzied people because he was so quick and strong, but he was probably 5’6 or so and could grab the rim. Crazy. I wonder what happened to him…
3. Jarmon Fortson, WR – I wonder if he’s related to Danny Fortson…speaking Fortson, I heard a story from a friend said that he saw Danny Fortson in a bar a few years ago. While Fortson was playing pool, some guy was pitching all sorts of crap to him. Why he would do this to a guy who is 6’8 and weighs like 260+ I have no idea. After awhile, Fortson calmly walked over to him and without changing the expression on his face swung and broke his pool cue on his head. The guy, shocked, simply ran away and Fortson went back to his game. I may be butchering the details of the story, but the salient points are that a guy was talking mess and got hit in the face by Danny Fortson’s pool cue. The lesson is: do not start something with a giant, no matter how drunk you are.
4. Antwane Greenlee, OT – this is a completely new twist on the many spellings of Antoine. I absolutely love it.
5. Jajuan Harley, DB – this name would be better if the second “J” was capitalized.
6. JaJuan Harley, S – oh, do you mean like this? An apostrophe would add the winning touch though. Do you think these guys go by Little J and Big J? If not, then I suggest that they do so.
7. Ja’Baris Little, TE –I simply love the apostrophe, but what’s up with “Baris?”
8. Demonte McAllister, DT – not much to say here, but I do love variations on “monte.”
9. Jacobbi McDaniel, DT – while Jacoby is popular, I doubt that this spelling of it is.
10. Caz Piurowski, TE – nothing wrong with Zs
11. Tavares Pressley, RB – I didn’t realize that this name was so common and had multiple spellings, (e.g. Minnesota’s displaced Tavaris Jackson).
12. Beau Reliford, TE – very Leave it to Beaverish.
13. Ashuwa Richardson, WR – Reminds me of the upside-down “e” the neutral vowel ə.
14. Zebrie Sanders, OT – sounds like a southerner pronouncing zebra.
15. Rhonne Sanderson, OT – Look, why use three letters (R-O-N) when you can use six?
16. Toshmon Stevens, DE – follow me here… his parents are fans of the reggae singer Peter Tosh, as such, they add “mon” to the end of sentences; hence Toshmon.
17. Budd Thacker, DT – if I was writing a western novel and ran this name by my editor, he wouldn’t let me use it because it’s too unbelievable.
18. Ventoure Watkins, DB – this reminds me of the late highly enigmatic, emotionally, and mentally unstable former UW cornerback, Anthony Vontoure…
19. Dekoda Watson, LB – again, the phonetic spelling of the double-cold states.

Georgia Tech
1. Chandler Anderson, K/P – the double surname is always fun, especially a ritzy sounding name like “Chandler.”
2. Izaan Cross, DE – is this an ethnic name or a designed name? It seems very Middle Eastern.
3. Euclid Cummings, DE – his parents must be math teachers.
4. DeRon Jasper, DB – this seems to be the antithesis of Deron Williams who insists that people pronounce his name “Darren” as opposed to “Deh-Ron.” It would be awesome if Mr. Jasper did the same thing what with the capital “R” and all.
5. Embry Peeples, HB – this name reminds me of scene inSilence of the Lambs when Dr. Lecter posed as Sergeant Jim Pembry by putting is face on top of his “It’s Jim Pembry! Now Talk to him, dammit!” even if the name is not quite right
6. Jaybo Shaw, QB – I find it very difficult to say this name without enthusiasm. “What’s up Jaybo!?” See what I mean?
7. Orwin Smith, HB – I think his parent’s just missed the “I” and slipped to the “O” on the keyboard. Hey, it happens.
8. Demaryius Thomas, WR – the Greek God of Marriage.
9. Jemea Thomas, DB – Doesn’t this sound like the name of woman in her 50s?

Maryland
1. De’Onte Arnett, DE – by far the most splendid spelling of this name to date, made all the more awesome with its use of an apostrophe and a mid-word capitalization. Great job.
2. Haroon Brown, RB – another one of those names that is missing a letter, in this case “P,” that would make an actual word.
3. Devonte Campbell, TE – great name, but you know what would make it better? De’Onte above. That’s what.
4. Webb Dulin, WR – his full name sounds like a euphemism for arm wrestling.
5. Deege Galt, DL – I wonder if his middle name starts with a “J” you know, how some people combine T.J. and call the person “Teege”? He could be a D.J. and it morphed into Deege… or maybe his parents just cut out the middle man (or middle letter) and went straight to Deege.
6. Steffan Lazerow, LB – I’ve seen Stephan and Stephon, but the double “f” threw me, also sweet last name.
7. Emani Lee-Odai, WR – have you ever seen knockoff designer labels before? I visited Korea some years ago and they had tons of these. For instance, “Guest” jeans instead of “Guess” jeans; “Puna” shoes instead of “Puma” shoes; this guy’s name fits right in: Emani instead of Armani.
8. Jamari McCollough, DB – Jamar is a cool name, but the added “I” makes it much more festive.
9. Antwine Perez, DB – and another one! this one with an “i” instead of an “a” (FSU’s Antwane Greenlee).
10. Jamarr Robinson, QB – see above, but I’m not so such about the double “r” it seems tacked on.
11. Da’Rel Scott, RB – A more fantastic variation on Darrell.
12. Lansford Watson, TE – this name is crying for III at the end of it.
13. LaQuan Williams, WR – the ACC is full of “Quans.”

Miami
1. Ray Ray Armstrong, DB – Calabro used to call Ray Allen by this name from time to time. I love nicknames when used as actual names, but this is the best I’ve ever seen.
2. LaRon Byrd, WR – kind of pedestrian these days since I’ve seen it a lot, which loosely translated means “The Ron.”
3. Thearon Collier, WR – This is kind of a less than sure of himself way to announce that his name is Ron. “The ah, Ron?”
4. Dyron Dye, DL – the DonnaChang pronunciation of Dylon.
5. Dedrick Epps, TE – reminds me of Drederick Tatum of The Simpsons fame.
6. Chavez Grant, DB – In high school, one of my friends used to call everyone Chavez, I’m thankful that this guy brought that memory back for me.
7. Shayon Green, LB – I would be so happy if this guy just gave us another way to spell “Shawn.”
8. Harland Gunn, OL – sounds like a PI based out of New Jersey in the 1950s
9. Jacory Harris, QB – doesn’t this sound like a type of rare root that you could find in the wild that would help heal a wound? “Just find some jacory and rub it on the cut, you’ll be fine.”
10. Javarris James, RB – adding some spice to an already spicy “Jarvis.”
11. Aldarius Johnson, WR – every single last Darius.
12. Davon Johnson, WR – Like Willie Young, this guy sounds fast.
13. Tervaris Johnson, TE – similar to Tavares and Tavaris, but with the extra “r.” So many variations…
14. JoJo Nicolas, DB – everytime I see the name “JoJo” I think of Richard Pryor being lit on fire.
15. Micanor Regis, DL – the Micanor is a precious stone that can actually cut a diamond.
16. Kylan Robinson, LB – sort of a bluish, green crayon.
17. Cannon Smith, QB – I challenge you to find me a better first name for a QB than this one. I suppose “Touchdown” or “Deep Ball” would be a better one and I’m guessing that name might be out there somewhere, I’ve just got to find it. (I just read this guy is transferring).
18. DeMarcus Van Dyke, DB – I wonder just how many Dutch DeMarcuses there are running around out there.

NC State
1. Audi Augustin, DE – this is the first time I’ve ever seen the carmaker Audi invoked as a name, but it was inevitable, given Porsche and, ok, well Porsche is the only one I can think of.
2. Clem Johnson, S – don’t stand anywhere near this guy if you don’t like the smell of Skoal.
3. Asante’ Cureton, LB – an extremely cool name that we’re all familiar with because of Asante Samuel. It sounds royal or something.
4. Koyal George, CB – This name does not sound royal, it just seems like it’s misspelled.
5. Ulysses Tuft, Jr., WR – I’m not sure if there is a more southern name than this one.
6. Audie Cole, LB – this is how my in-laws pronounce the car above, “Audi,” which, in my estimation, is simply wrong.
7. Hans Rice II, LB – probably the only guy in the entire South named “Hans.” Not a lot of Scandinavians south of the Mason Dixon.
8. Alan-Michael Cash, DT – If football doesn’t work out, this guy has a career in country music waiting for him. This double-name trend is fantastic, it’s taking Billy Bob to new heights.
9. Duran Christophe, OL – I was not nor am I now a Duran Duran fan. I feel the same way about Duran Duran that I do about musicians like U2, The Cure, REM (with a few song exceptions), any 90s hair metal band, Dave Matthews Band, and Lenny Kravitz, despite their rampant popularity, I just don’t like them.
10. Denzelle Good, OL – What Denzel Washington would be if crossed with a gazelle.
11. Asa Watson, TE – it’s always fun to have a name that seems like it should be an acronym.
12. Grey Berry, TE – this is what I call a rotten blackberry.
13. Willie Young, DE – this guy just sounds fast.
14. Shea McKeen, DE – this guy just sounds cool.

UNC
1. Hawatha Bell, LB – Just an “i” away from becoming a folk hero.
2. Jheranie Boyd, WR – Do you think putting a “J” and “H” next to each other creates a new pronunciation sort of like “Th”, “Sh”, and “Wh”? Let’s go with Zshu.
3. Tavares Brown, DT – seems to be the conventional way to spell this.
4. Kendric Burney, CB – I’m thinking of Keiffer Sutherland’s character Lt. Jonathan Kendrick in A Few Good Men. “I have two books at my bedside, Lieutenant, the Marine Corps Code of Conduct and the King James BIBLE!”
5. Lowell Dyer, C – In college, one of the doofiest hoop players we had was a 7’0 Baby Huey type named “Lowell,” I will never associate this name with anyone other than him. I will always remember him for an extremely boneheaded play. Here’s the situation: our team is up by 1 with less than a second left in the game. The other team has to inbound the ball from the other end of the court. So they have to do a Christian Laettner v. Kentucky type shot to win the game, only they have less time to do so. The ball gets inbounded and Lowell crashes into the guy trying to catch the ball as the horn sounds. Foul on Lowell. Guy goes to the line with no time left and sinks both shots. Our team loses by 1.
6. Linwan Euwell, LB – I have no idea what to make of this name.
7. T. Moore Evins, OL – I just looked up this guy’s bio, his name is Thomas, which is disappointing, I thought that maybe his first name was just “T.” But the weird thing is he’s a III because his grandfather and father were also named Thomas Moore Evins. If you were a III, wouldn’t you use that as part of your name? Although he may go by “T” to distance himself from the lineage. Interesting. Or not.
8. LeCount Fantroy, CB – I feel like I’m in a period movie and this guy is being introduced to the Queen, “Your Majesty, I present LeCount Fantroy, from Paris.”
9. Hunter Furr, RB – one of the all-time great porn actor names.
10. Mywan Jackson, DB – I’ve seen this in a few names, but isn’t this a phonetically spelled out version of someone with a speech impediment saying “Myron?”
11. Trase Jones, K/KR – is this Tracy truncated, but spelled wrong? Also, is this the only guy in the history of D1 college football who is listed as a kicker AND kick returner? Perhaps there are others, but I haven’t heard of one. Evidently he’s the starting “holder” as well. My buddy JJ played football in college and was also the starter and returned punts. He didn’t kick though.
12. Rashad Mason, WR – I feel like this name needs an “r”
13. Aleric Mullins, DT – Do you think his parents were thinking that they liked the way “allergic” sounds, but didn’t want their son to have that exact name so they dropped the “g”? I’d love to know the story.
14. Donte Paige-Moss, DL – yet another way to spell Dante. The variations are endless.
15. Tydreke Powell, DT – does he go by “Ty” or “Dreke” like Tyreke Evans goes by “Reke”?
16. Bryn Renner, QB – a little too many “n”s for my liking.
17. Da’Norris Searcy, DB – three great things here: (1) Da, (2) apostrophe, and (3) second capitalization. Great work.
18. Quan Sturdivant, LB –Quan, straight up.
19. Deunta Williams, DB – I wonder if this another way to spell Dionte. Initially, I’d guess this name is pronounced Dee-Un-Tah, but Tra Thomas, formerly of Philly now with Jacksonville, pronounces his name “Tray” when it looks like it should be “Trah.” I’m hoping that it’s pronounced like Dionte, it just sounds smoother.

Virginia
1. Riko Smalls, WR – second cousin to Biggie Smalls (“uh uh”)
2. Mikell Simpson, TB – do you think this is the Russian pronunciation e.g. Mikhail Gorbachev or the American pronunciation, e.g. Michael Jordan? either way, it’s an new spelling twist.
3. Javaris Brown, WR – Jarvis is pedestrian, but Javaris… now we’re getting somewhere.
4. Jameel Sewell, QB – lots of “e”s here.
5. Javanti Sparrow, DB – this name sounds like a rare bird that a geriatric Indiana Jones has to capture to save the world from total annihilation.
6. Ras-I Dowling, CB – I’m not entirely sure what’s going on here
7. Staton Jobe, WR – sounds like stapler manufacturing plant.
8. Zach Mendez-Zfass, WR – this is a first name list, but just look at that last name.
9. LaRoy Reynolds, DB – a great modern spin on the name “LeRoy.” I like it.
10. Ausar Walcott, S – I have no idea how to pronounce this.
11. Rashawn Jackson FB – I’m becoming a big fan of “__shawn” and its many iterations (Lashawn, Dashawn, Keyshawn, Shawnshawn…)
12. LoVante Battle, DB – the only thing missing is the apostrophe, but this is still golden.
13. Patch Duda, WR – sounds like a bounty hunter in Star Wars.
14. Tucker Windle, LB – I’d bet that this guy is an all-world whittler.
15. Raynard Horne, TB – channeling Beavis and Butthead here: Nard. By the way, I hated that show. I just heard an interview with Mike Judge on NPR on Tuesday and it reinforced my rancor.
16. Denzel Burrell, LB – I like the melodic nature to this name, plus, we need more Denzel’s in the world. I’d just feel safer that way.
17. John-Kevin Dolce, NT – JK’s parents just couldn’t decide.
18. Dontrelle Inman, WR – this would be wildly uncommon if not for our familiarity with Dontrelle Willis.
19. Colter Phillips, TE – Stone Phillips’s kid.
20. Buddy Ruff, NT – with apologies to UNC’s Hunter Furr, Mr. Ruff here has a strong argument for best porn name.
21. Zane Parr, DE – We could use more Z names in the world.

Virginia Tech
1. Telvion Clark, LB – a few letters missing here, nevertheless, a few great nicknames for him could be: TV, Plasma, Big Screen…
2. Bo Gentry, C – I prefer this spelling over the whitebready “Beau.”
3. Germond Oatneal, CB – do you get the feeling that someone spelled their last name wrong way back when?
4. Nubian Peak, FL – I like geographic names and paired with this surname I like it ever better.
5. Duan Perez-Means, DE – Juan with a D. I wonder if this guy is related to Natrone Means… who, in addition to being a fantastic, albeit short-lived running back, had one of the most awesome names the game has ever seen.
6. Tyrel Wilson, DE – I hope he goes with the Ty-Rel pronunciation rather than Terrill. Ty-Rel just sounds so much cooler.
7. Davon Morgan, ROV – kind of like Devon, but with a little bit more flair.
8. Tyrod Taylor, QB – I’ve gotten used to this name because he’s been around a little bit, but that doesn’t mean it’s not an unusual name.
9. Dyrell Roberts, FL – I initially thought his name was Dryel, the home dry cleaning product.
10. Ju-Ju Clayton, QB –I really hope his middle name is “Be.” Also, I’d like to introduce you to his brother, Junior Mint Clayton, and his sister, Dots Clayton.
11. Dorian Porch, ROV – I first saw this name when I was in high school because a dude at Foss had this name who went on to star at WSU – Dorian Boose. Super cool name.
12. Quillie Odom, LB – I just have no idea where a name like this comes from. I hope it is pronounced “kwillie.”
13. Lyndell Gibson, LB – kind of like LenDale White, which is also a named I’d never heard before he starred at USC as, apparently, a tequila swilling slob. I didn’t know that tequila packed that much of a wallop, but the guy attributes him losing nearly 40lbs to giving up the agave nectar. Amazing, when you think about it. He must have drank A LOT.
14. Jeron Gouveia-Winslow, LB –Kurt Gouveia’s son.
15. Nekos Brown, DE – I must admit, I do love Grecian-sounding names.
16. Barquell Rivers, LB – he just sounds like he can rip a door off of its hinges.
17. Demetrius Taylor, DT – makes me think of Dimitrius Underwood, the Michigan State DE who was drafted by the Vikings who had some serious mental issues. http://articles.latimes.com/1999/oct/09/sports/sp-20443
18. Prince Parker, TE – this is simply not a very cool move by his folks.
19. Kwamaine Battle, DT – I remember the hip hop artist, Kwame (“…and his f***in polka dots!”) and we know Kwame Brown but this is a power combo of that name and Jermaine (I’m guessing).
20. Cordarrow Thompson, DT – this is a new corduroy upholstery specifically made for wheelbarrows.

Wake Forest
1. Whit Barnes, OL – An extraordinarily Caucasian name, even without the “e” at the end.
2. Cline Beam, K – brother to Jim.
3. Derricus Ellis, DE – a combo of Derrick and … Atticus??
4. Turner Faulk, QB – Tom Hanks was awesome in Turner and Hooch, one of my favorite movies growing up. I loved the scene when he’s screaming “What!? Whaaaat?!!!!” at Hooch when he’s continually barking outside. A little dorky? Sure, but it’s a funny movie. I stand by it.
5. Hunter Haynes, LB – I knew a guy who had the last name Hunter, but a first name? Awesome. Plus, the alliteration with the last name is doubly cool.
6. Lovell Jackson, RB – spellcheck doesn’t pick up this name. Is Lovell that common?
7. Duran Lowe, DB – see above …
8. Gelo Orange, LB – is this for real? I’ve heard the urban mythy names Orangejello and Lemonjello (pronounced Or-Ahn-juh-low and Luh-Mon-juh-low), but are we serious with this?
9. Cyhl Quarles, SS – do you know how to pronounce this?
10. Boo Robinson, DT – I will always think of Boo Radley when I see this name.
11. Quan Rucker,WR – yes! another full on Quan!
12. Tripp Russell, DT – makes me think of Tripper Johnson and I’d rather not. Husky fans, you know what I’m talking about.
13. Nikita Whitlock, LB – I’m a big fan of bogarting Russian names. Even if they are girl names.
14. Garrick Williams, OT – sounds very Scotland Highland Hills-ish, even if he’s not.